Caster.



PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

J. KAEFER.

GASTEH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1904. N0 MODEL.

FIG. 2.

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PYITNESSES:

GZMKW at. W

NTTED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

JOHN KAEFER, OF HAMILTON, OHIO.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 773,940, datedNovember 1, 1904.

Application filed May 14,1904. Serial No. 208,058. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOHN KAEFER, of Hamilton, county of Butler, and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and clear descriptionthereof.

My invention relates to casters adapted for any commercial use.

In the particular exemplification shown by the drawings in this instancethe invention is designed for use as a furniture-caster.

The improvements consist in the following construction and combinationof parts, the details of which will first be fully described and thefeatures of novelty then set forth and.

claimed.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a caster to which I have applied myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view.Fig. 4 is a longitudinal side section of the caster, showing the pintlein elevation.

In the drawings, 1 represents the housing of the caster; 2, the centralhanger of the housing; 3, the outer vertical portions of the hanger; 4,the wheel-axle; 5, the wheels journaled on aXle 4; 6, a preferably openpocket in the central hanger, adapted to receive the end thrust of thepintle; 7, the pintle, having a globular lower end fitting thecorresponding recess in the pocket 6; 8, the caster-plate, rigidlysecured to the pintle, as by a rivet 9, with means for securing the sameto the article of furniture in the usual way; 10, an annular recess inthe lower end of the casterplate, adapted to receive a collar on thepintle; 11, the tail of the hanger, projecting preferably to one side'ofthe axle opposite the pintle-bearing; 12, a ball race or retainersurrounding the pintle above its lower bearing; 13, balls in the raceadapted to bear laterally upon the pintle; 14, an oscillatingretainerplate comprising the ball-race and having a rearwardly-extendingtail disposed over the tail ll of the hanger, the retainer-platecomprising preferably horizontally split halves secured by a fastening,as screw 15; 16, a

pivot upon which the retainer-plate 14 oscillates or vibrates.

In connection with the flaring open pocket 6 for sustaining the pintle alateral horizontal recess 17 in the top of the hanger-plate adaptsitself well to this particular embodiment of the invention. The upperfloor of the tail extension 11 of the hanger is preferably raised abovethe floor of the recess 17, and the tail of the vibrating retainer-plateis oscillatingly supported thereon, the pivot 16 securing the partstogether.

The pintle is retainedin its place upon the hanger by the collars orshoulders 18 and 19 on the pintle and the balls in the ball-race.Sufficient width is given between these collars in .order to allow forthe vibratory movement of the pintle in connection with its rotarymovement.

It will be noted that the single pivot pin or screw 16 performs thedouble office of a bearing upon which the retainer-plate oscillates andalso retains the pintle upon the hanger through the intervention of theball-bearing and the collars upon the pintle.

The caster is rigid with respect to fore and aft strains on a line withthe pintle and the bearing of the retainer-plate, leaving the pintlefree to oscillate for the purpose of accommodating the wheels to theinequalities of the floor, thereby neutralizing any strains upon thecaster upon lines substantially at right angles to a line drawn betweenthe pintle and the pivot of the retainer-plate.

It is desired to emphasize the statement that the invention is notlimited to the concrete example furnished by the accompanyingillustration. The manifestations of the invention permit of indefinitestructural moditications so long as they come within the terms of theclaims.

l/Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a caster, the combination of a hanger provided with wheels, aball-bearing retainerplate pivotally mounted thereon, a pintle with inthe retainer-plate and upon the hanger, said retainer-plate being halvedto admit the insertion of the balls, and means for fastening the same.

2. In a caster, the combination of a hanger provided with wheels, aball-bearing retainerplate composed of horizontally-divided plates Withrearwardly-extending tails, a pivot exl plate engaging the shoulder tosecure the pin I0 tending through both plates, and a pintle l tle to thehanger. passing through the retainer-plate. l In testimony whereof Ihave aflixed my sig- 3. In a caster, the combination of a hanger 1nature in the presence of two Witnesses.

5 provided With wheels, a pint e supportec by i 1 the hanger and havinga shoulder, an oscill JOHN KAEFLR' leting retainer-plate embracing thepintle and l pivoted at one side to the hanger, and an anl \Vitnesses:

CLARENCE MURPHY,

tifriction device in the oscillating reteiner- I NELSON VVILLIAMS.

